Press Release - 05-22-2017

Governor Cuomo Proclaims May 22 through 29 as Vehicle Safety Week, Encouraging New Yorkers to Ensure Safe Automobile Use this Summer

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today highlighted the first-ever Vehicle Safety Week in New York State, drawing motorists’ attention to the need to make sure their cars are safe for the summer driving season. The time between May 22 and May 29 will be used to encourage motorists to check fluids, tire pressure, battery life, windshield wipers and other safety measures to make sure their vehicles are ready for summer travel. Motorists can also check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Safety Issues & Recalls page for information on recalls that could affect their vehicles to ensure all fixes are complete before taking to the road. DMV and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee recently produced a video highlighting the importance of the website in finding important recall information.

“Whether you’re heading to the beach for the day or taking a family vacation, there is nothing more important than making sure your family gets there safely,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “Your annual vehicle inspection ensures your vehicle meets safety standards, but conditions change throughout the year. Weather, road conditions and miles driven, to name a few, affect your vehicle. That’s why it is important to take a few moments to examine your car to be sure it’s in good running order and to check that there are no recalls that affect your vehicle. If there are, you can learn how to get repairs made so you and your loved ones can travel safely.”

According to the NHTSA, there are 11,000 crashes every year as a result of faulty tires alone. Almost 200 people die each year nationwide in crashes where improperly inflated tires were a factor.

“Just as a family checks to make sure all the suitcases are properly packed and that there is sufficient bug spray and sunscreen, it is even more important to take the time to make sure your vehicle is working properly,” Egan continued. “Nothing ruins a vacation like being stranded at the side of the road or, worse, being in a preventable crash. We want all New Yorkers’ vacations to be memorable for the right reasons, not the wrong ones.”

The NHTSA's Safety Issues & Recalls webpage details what recalls are in effect for vehicles so that motorists can quickly identify what needs to be done. You can even sign up for alerts for any future recalls that might affect your car, SUV or pickup truck.

In hot weather, motorists are urged to be certain their cooling systems are working well to avoid overheating both for the car itself and for the people inside it. Make sure your windshield wipers are not worn and that you have enough wiper fluid to keep your windshield clean.

It is also recommended that New Yorkers keep a summer travel safety kit in their car with windshield wiper fluid, jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge, hazard road markers, a flashlight, phone charger, and water and snacks for passengers in case you are stranded. When checking that the tires on the car are properly inflated, make sure the spare tire is also in good condition in case you need it.